Rail flange lubricator



July 11 1933- c. STERN ET A1.

RAIL FLANGE LUBRICTOH 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 8, 1932 xav/l ...Il .Y ...III z aurlWN-r July 11, 1933. C, STERN ETAL 1,918,144

RAIL FLANGE LUBR I CATOR Filed Jan. 8, 1932 4 sheets-smeet' 2 July 11, 1933. c. STERN Er AL RAIL FLANGE LUBRIGATOR Filed Jan. 8, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 grt/vento@ Maw/gl.

Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATESA PATENT OI-Flerv oHARLrs STERN or JnRsnY CITY, NEWYJERSEY, DE LANCEY W. DAVIS, or* SAYRE', PENNSYLVANIA, AND HENRY o. GiLLnsrIE, or HUNTINGION, WEST VIRGINIA, nssrGNoRs To anco MANUFAoT-URNG ooMrANY, or HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A

CORPORATION or DELAWARE RAIL FLANGE LUBRICATOR`4 rhc present invention relatesfto a cornbined rail and flange lubricator adapted for application to the rails of a track adyacent curves particularly, so as to prevent WearV and cutting of the rails and the Wheel flanges y about the curves. Another obyect of the present invention is to provide an improved structure ofl autoA matic operating means for the feedlof the lubricant and which will insure the positive and complete operation of the means irrespective of the amount 'of depression to vvluch the tread member 1s sulnected during the passage of the Wheels of rolling stock overthe track to which the lubricator is applied. Y n

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lubricant supply tank Which is.

of such construction that the operating means thereof embodies an indicator visible from the exterior of the tank to' determine.

Without opening the tank thequantity of lubricant-contained therein.

A further object of the present invention is to provice an improved feed plate con-y tegral neck eliminati-ng various connections heretofore employed and admitting ofthe neck of the feed plate with a source of lubricant under pressure which is exposed beyond the adjacent hase flange of the rail.

The invention further aims at the provisien of certain improved constructions Vin the mounting of the intermittently operable devices for simplifying the construction of the saine and providingra device which is strong, durable, relatively lighty in weight and which may be quickly and easily applied to a rail.

llVith the foregoing and: other objects in. view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and Will beV more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols re-l fer to like or corresponding parts throughout the severalv views.

. Figure l s a fragmentary top plan view of a railroad track having a lubricating de-v vice constructed according to the present I1. vention applied thereto. l

Figure 2 is an enlarged'fragmentary side elevation of the outer face of arail having the lubricating device applied thereto.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-,3 of Figure 2,-' and showing ar wheel of rolling stock in position onl the rail and engaging Ithe lubricating devicef. y

Figure ly is a top plan View of the lubrh catng device applied to a rail, parts being broken away for the sake of clearness.

, Figure 5 is a detail vertical Section taken through a lubricant supply tank, vshevrir'xg the feeding mechanism connected thereto* Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the upper end of the supply tank, showing the combined outlet nozzle and closure plate therefor. Y x

Figure V7 is a transverse section taken through the lubricating device on the line 7 7 of Figure 4 and showing the friction retaining means for the' feed shaftr Figure 8 isa fragmentaryinner side ele.-Y vation of a rail, showing the feeding and spreading means forsupplying lubricantto the rail head.

' Figure 9 is a fragmentary outer side elevation of a raill having a` modified form of thelubricating device s applied thereto, and

yFigure 10 is a transverse section takenure 9. f y y y Referring new tothe dravvings,l and first. to Figure l, l5 designates the rails Of a railroad track which are supported upon ties 16 in the usual manner. At one side .of the. track, which maybe at the approach of a curve, or other desiredlocation at which the lubricant is to be applied there is provided in the road bed a pit or box 17 in which is placed a lubricant supply tank 18 andfrom which lubricant is adapted to be fedl byan operating shaft 19 through a supply pipe 20 which leads to they track and beneath the adjacent rail l5 and is connected to a feed plate 21 secured to the inner side* of the ly turned through a suitableoperating mechanism 22 which is actuated by a depressible shoe or member 23 supported on the adjacent rail in the path of a wheel 24, shown in Figure 8, by the rolling stockso that each time a wheel 24 passes over the shoe 23 a supply of lubricant isfed to the inner side of the rail head. v

Each rail isy of conventional form and comprises a base o'r body part supporting an upright web 25 which carries a head 26 on its upper edge over which the wheel 24 passes.

The lubricating device comprises an inner side plate 27 and an outer side plate 28. As shown to advantage in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the plates 27 andV 28 are clamped against the opposite sides of the web 25 of the rail by bolt-s 29 with their -nut-s 30 which engage transversely through the web 25 and the plates. 'Theplate 27 which is disposed at the inner side of the raill web is provided intermediate its ends and between its upper and lower edges with a depression or chamber'81'which is closed at its outer side by a feed plate .82 which not only extends throughout` the length and height of the chamber 81 but suiiiciently 'beyond the same toclose the chamber and which rises above the plate 27 into a position at theside and adjacent the tread surface of the head 26 of the rail, as clearly shown in Figures 8 and 8,. The feed plate 82 is provided in its inner face and at its upper edge portion with a" plurality of flat slots 33 which open at their lower ends into the chamber 81 and at their upper ends openthrough the upper edge of the plate and againstthe adjacent sidel of the rail head 26. The feed plate 32 Y is provided with a central aperture 34 which registers with a registering aperture provided in a clamping plate 35. The clamping plate 35'i'engagesV over the feed plate and may be provided vwith a suitable packing as shown for sealing the clamp about the opening 84 in the feed plate. The clamp plate 85 is secured to the side plate 27 by a plurality of bolts 36, or the like, which may also pass through the feed plate 82 for binding the 'latter against the side plate 27 and holding the clamping plate against the feed plate.V

The feed plate 32 is provided at an intermediate pointr with a supply neck 37 which may be cast integral with the clamping plate and which opens through the clamping plate in register with the aperture 34 so as to supply lubricant Vtothe chamber 81.l The neck 37 opens downwardly and is y internally threaded to receive an elbow 38 to which is .A connected thesupply'pipe 20.

rlhe supply pipev20 leads from the, lubricant supply tank 18, and as shown particularly in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the top of the tank 18 is provided with a closure plate 39 Y: secured thereto by bolts 40, or the like, and

' which has an outwardly tapering supply connection 41 as a part of the plate 39 and to the reduced end of which is connected the pipe 20. The tank 18 may be of any suitable construction but in the present instance is shown, in Figure 5, as comprising a pair of opposite end sections which are clamped or secured together by means of bolts 42 which are secured through out-turned flanges at the abutting ends of the tank sections.

The packing ring 43 may be used for sealing the sections in closed position.

A piston follower44 is mounted to slide lengthwise in the tank 18 and is held from turning therein by means of a pair of guide rods 45 and 46 which are disposed in parallel relation and extend throughout the length of the tank 18. The guide rods 45 and 46 pass through suitably formed openings in the piston follower 44 and are offset from the axis .of-the piston to hold -the latter from turning. i

A screw rod 47 is disposed axially within the tank 18 and is mounted at its lower or inner end in a thrust bearing 48 carried in the lower head of the tank. The rod 47 engages in threaded relation through the piston follower 44 for feeding the same lengthwise in the tank when the rod 47 is turned. The upper or outer end of the screw rod 47 has bearing in the upper or outer head of the tank and extends therethrough and is provided upon its outer extremity with a non-circular projection 49 adapted to detachably receive thereon a crank handle, or the like by means of which the screw rod 47 may be manually turned in either direction. Y

For automatically operating the screw rod 47 and effecting the movement of the follower 44, the outer end of the rod 47 is provided with a worm wheel 50 which meshes with a worm 51 the shaft of which is mounted in a bearing bracket 52 and which has one end pivotally mounted upon a. bolt 53, or the like, as shown in Figure 5, disposed to hold the worm 51 against the wheel 50 when the bracket 52 is swung inwardly to normal position as shown in 'Figure 4. The free end of the bracket 52eXte'nds to the peripheral portion of the outer head of the tank 18 and is provided at its outer end and at its side remote from the wheel'50 with a notch 54 adapted to receive thereinv a latch lever 55 which is arranged at one side of the tank 18 and which extends outwardly therefrom for engagement with the bracket 52. The lever 55 is provided with a pair of spaced projections 56 adapted to lie against'the upper and lower faces of the bracket 52 to hold the latter from swinging outwardly from the Lhead of the tank 18. The latch lever 55 is pivotally mounted at its inner or lower end upon a bolt 57 and is slidably engaged upon a spaced bolt or pin 58 which carries a spring 59 held by a nut 60 under tension against the outer side of the latch lever 55 to hold the latter inwardly against 'the side of `the `'tank 18'V end of the braak` and inthe path of the fonteiet 52. j

The latch lever extends upwardly arsuffc'ient distance to provide a hand hold hy" The shaft of the worm 51 :1s connected by a suitable universal joint 61 -to the operating' shaft 19, and `the latter may be adjusted as to length by'means of a sleeveV coupling 62 for .accommodating the shaft 19-torthe dis tance .fbetween the adjacent rail 15 andthe tank 18. The inner end ofthe shaft 19 is connected by a second universal joint y6,3 to a'spindle `64 mounted and headed in a bushing 65 which is carried by the outer si de plate 28, as shown in Figure 3. MountedV to turn on 'the bushing 65 is a drum lorroeker 66 cupped at its outer side and closed by a'cap 67 which telescopes over the outer end ofthe drum for rocker 66. Keyed to the' spindle -64 isa roller disc 68 a-dapted'to turnfthe spindle and which is provided, as shown in Figure 2,at suitably spaced points in its periphery with shouldered and inclined slots 69 in which are mounted rollers 7 0, or 'thelike, and the latter may be 4spring cushioned in the usual manner at lthe shouldered or inner ends of the slots. Surrounding the roller disc 68 is a clutch ring 71 which is engagedwith a forced or tight `fit into -the cupper side of the `drum or rocker 66 so as toturn therewith. The rollers 79 are lheld from `endwise displacement by' a disc washer 7 2, or. the` like, mounted on lthe spindle 64 4and held in place by a nut 65, as shown in Figure 3.

Outwardly of the cover cap '67, the adj-acent member .of the universal coupling 63 is mounted in a strap bearing 73 having a fric# tion brake lining 74 lengaging the joint memloer'63` for .retarding the rotation of the drive or operating shaft 19 and to yalso hold the shaft against over-running.v The strapbearing 73 has a cap piece or strap 75 through which pass bolts 76, the latter passing through the lower ends of a supporting bracket 77 and vcarrying .springs 78 ustably tensioned aga-inst the bracket 77 by nuts'7 9, 'or the like. The bolts 76 are thus placed under tension so .as to yieldingly hold the cap pieceor strap against the friction lining 74. Thus, the tension on the shaft 19 may be adjusted.'

The bracket 77 is substantially U-shap'e,

asshown in Figures land 4, and at its opposite ends is secured beneath the nuts '30 of the `clamping bolts 29 which hold the side plates 27 and 28 `vto the rail.

The drum of rocker 66 1s providedat one side with U-shaped arms or projections 80,

and as shown in Figures 2 fand' 4. The closure cap 67 is cut 'out on one side to fit over theoiiter' arm for projectionrSG when it is placed in position, thus preventing closurev tread spring or shoe disposed a-t the outer side of the' rail head 26, ras shown to advantage in Figure A3. -One .end-of the spring k85 is pivoted upon a laterally extending bolt 556 preferably mounted upon the outer -side plate 28 adjacent one yend thereof. The other end of the spring 85 -is connected 'by means of a shackle 87 Vto the other Jend portion of the plate 28 by means `of a pivot bolt 88 Which projects'outwardly from the plate. Thus, lthe shackle 87 admits/of the free spreading of the ends'of the spring '8,5 when the inter mediate portion thereof is depressed, and the movement of 'it-he intermediate portion of the spring, through the link 83 aetuates the rocker 166. j l Y j n The feed pipe 20 `which `entends from the outlet nozzle and enclosure `plate 41 to the feed plate 35 preferably has a length of flexible'fhose ytherein so -as `to absorb vibration of the track 4during the pas-sage lof rolling s'toc'k thereover and to prevent any damage to the pipe couplings `or joints. rllhis vibration is also absorbed "through the `universal 'joints Ain theoperatingor drive shaft 19.

" As maybe observed from Figur-est) and 10, the improvements 4of 'the present invention may be applied to the pawl and ratchet type of feed. In this modification `the `spindle 64 carries a ratchet disc or wheel 89 which -is keyed toD the spindle and provided with ratchetteeth in its periphery. The 'rockeror drum 66 carries therein a plurality f of pawls 90 'for engagement with Vthe ratchet `disc .89 to intermittently turn the latter during the rocking of the drum or rocker 66. JChains 91 anchored at eachend of plate28 to undersideof tread yspring or shoe 85 `is a safety featureshould tread spring orshoe 4:85 break, thus holding 'same from getting on top of rail heard 26. h

j The'tan'k shown is adapted to be placed -vertically in the pit Vor box '17, `and to facilitate filling of the tank, the latter vis vprovided with a vent pipe 92 which-extends upwardly to the desired height in the boXor pit 17, and which also admitsof the free movement of the follower 44 upwardly or downwardly without any pressure against the `under side thereof. The follower 44 is provided at its upper orl outer side with a ycushion spring 9 3 adapted to engage the outer end of the tankv 1 8 for holding the follower in a downwardly 'urged position against thefouter endvof the'threaded portion of the rod 47 :The threaded portion of the head terminates at a point spaced from -the'outfer' end of the tank so `that when the supply of' lubricant is practically exits lis

hausted from the --tank the follower 44 will', not bel fedv upwardly by .the rod 47 even' though the latter be continued in operation. As soon as the rod 47 is turned in a reverse direction, the follower 44 will be immediately forced on to the threads bythe spring 43.

. The guiderod 45 which extends lengthwise so that as the follower 44 moves lengthwise in 'the tank or cylinder, the rod 45 is turned pro? port-ionately. The outer end of the rod 45 u projects through the outer head of the tank or cylinder and has thereon an indicating arm 97 which traverses a dial or segment 98 fixed upon the upper end of the cylinder and which is suitably graduated, to show the relative height of the follower 44 in the tank or cylinder. Thus, inspection may be made as to the quantity of lubricant in the tank 18 by merely observing the position of they pointer 97 without actually opening the tank.

. From Figure 2 particularly, it will be noted that the rocker member' lis provided with astop lug 98 which projects from the rocker' member preferably at a point opposite from the arm 80 and which is disposed in line with an adjustable stop pin' 99mounted upon 'a projection 100 extending from the side of the plate 28 so as to limit the backwardturning of the rocking member 66 when thespring 85 is raised. The stop 99 is adapted to take up lost motion or wear between the spring 85 and the rocking member when the two elements ar disposed in their respective normal position of rest. Stop pin 99 screws into pro`v jection 100 andis provided with a lock nut at its lower'end, as shown in Figure'2. The object of stop pin 99 is for raising or lowering tread springor shoe 85 so las to regulate the rocking of rocker GG and thisin turncontrols the revolutions Aof driving shaft 19 through worm 51 and worm wheel 50 to screw 47 which controls the amount vof lubricant necessary. In operation, ,when a` wheel of rolling stock passes over the adjacent rail head 26 and engages and depresses the spring shoe 85, the link 83 is forced drownwardly'and turns the rocker or drum (i6-'in one direction. This direction of movement of'v the rocker'is preferably the power stroke and the slots 69 and the rollersvO are so relatively positioned between the disc 68 and the ring 71 as'to turn the spindle 64 and the operating shaft 19 during this 'depression of the spring 85; The shaft 19 turns `the worm 51, worm wheel 50 and the threaded shaft or rod 47 in the tank 18. TheV direction in which therod 47 turns under these conditions -raises the follower 44 and forces the lubricant in the tank upwardly out ofthe tapering' coupling 41 and into the feed pipe 20. The lubricant passes through lthe pipe'20 tothe feed plate 35by is thus fed under pressure to the chamber 31,

and is caused to pass upwardly against theinner side ofthe feed plate through'the slots 33`in the upper extention of the intermediate feed plate 32. ,The grease 'is thus distributedY overla substantial area at the innersideof the' rail head 26. I f

Any inherent resiliencyof the spring tread 85 returns it to normal raised position and, through the link 83 turns the rocking member or drum-66 back to normal position and withiout turning the operating shaft 19 backwardly. The shaft 19 is yieldingly held in its forwardly turned position by means ofthe -fricf tion brake inthe bearing 73. The shaft-19 is thus intermittently turned to intermittent-I ly feed the lubricant to the rail head so that the feeding of the vlubricant depends upon the number of wheels 24 which pass over the particular portion of the rail 15`to which the lubricator is applied. It will be noted from Figure 3 that the neck 37 extends outwardly and downwardly from the plate 35 so that the feed pipe 20 may be connected tothe neck 37 at a point beyond the adjacent base' flange 'of the rail. Thus, theffeed pipe .or hose 20 may ,extend across the -under side of the rail between, the ties or the like, and

lower outer end of the neck37.

As the quantity of lubricant in the tank be connected bv the elbow 38 directly t'o the- 18 decreases, the follower' piston 44 risesand turns the indicator rod so that the arm 97 moves over the fixed dial 98 and consequently shows at the exterior of the tank 18 the quantity of lubricant which is contained therein When it -is desired to replenish' the supply of lubricant in the tankY 18, it 'is only neces` sary to grasp the upper' end f thek latchlever and spring the same outwardly against the tension of the spring* 59 to release the bracket 52. The bracket 52 is now swung outwardlyv from the worm wheel 50 to disengage the worm 51 therefrom.` A crankhan dle, or other suitable tool may'now be app-lied to the upper end 49 of the screw ro'd 4or shaft 47 and by means of which the'latteris turned in a reverse direction to 'move the'follower 49 39 is now removed and the lubricant is placed in the tank.' The flexible hose section inthe pipe 20 admitsof this free movement of the plate 39 so that the latter maybe merely 120 downwardly in the tank.` The cover plate H115 It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a rail flange lubricator, a side plate for attachment to a rail, a spindle mounted on the side plate having a disc thereon with inclined slots in its periphery, rollers mounted in said slots, a rocking member mounted on said side plate, a ring secured in the locking member and encircling the disc for interlocking engagement with the rollers when the locking member is turned in one direction, a cap carried by the rocking member and enclosing the disc and rollers therein, a resilient depressible member carried by the side plate and connected to the rocking member and adapted for engagement with the wheels of rolling stock to turn said rocking member, and a friction brake operable on said spindle to yieldingly hold the same against backward movement upon the return rotation of the rocking member to normal position.

2. In a rail flange lubricator, a side plate adapted to be secured against the side of a rail beneath the head thereof and having a cavity in its outer side, a feed plate fitting against the side plate over said cavity and having spaced channels in its upper edgeA fitting against the side plate over the cavity to close the same and having on its inner side spaced channels leading from the cavity through the upper edge of the feed plate to deposit lubricant against the side of the rail head and having an opening therethrough in register with the cavity, and a clamp plate secured against the feed plate to hold it to the side plate and having an integral neck opening through the clamp plate in register with the opening in the feed plate and eX- 'D tending downwardly and outwardly from the clamp plate for connection with a source of lubricant under pressure at a point beyond the rail base.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

CHARLES STERN. `DE LANCEY WV. DAVIS. HENRY C. GILLESPIE.

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